Double Down Owner Worries about Noise Complaints

People who live in a Gainesville condominium have live entertainment several nights a week. but some of them don't want it.

The condo was built next door to a nightspot that has made its name as a venue for live music.

TV 20's Yaremi Farinas reports. so far, the club and some neighbors have yet to find common ground.

I spoke to one of the residents at the palms who told me what he thought about having free live music right in his backyard.

For about eight years this place use to be called "Common Grounds," but since last July it turned into the Double Down Live.

A place where local and national artists come to play for their fans, but just across this concert like club sits a four story condominium that was built in 2008. Gordon Streisand a University of Florida student has been living at the Palms since the fall.

"We knew what we were getting into when we go this place, so I have no problem no problem with it."

But not all residents are not OK with having live music so close to their home since the owner gets about three to five noise complaints a week.

Moe Rodriguez is the owner of double down. he worries every day about getting fined.

By: Yaremi Farinas

"We are doing our best to keep the sound down. We have some dampers in there and we have some stuff on the doors to try and prevent the sound. I am still trying to figure out how I can do more."

The owner of double down does have a sound level meter to measure the noise from the double down to the Palms. I am standing out here in the middle of the day with no live music and the meter is measuring at over seventy decibels.

Sixty decibels is the limit set in the Gainesville's Noise Ordinance, a level considered high enough to disturb a reasonable person 200 feet away.

The club is only a couple feet from the condos.

"I really want to come to peace with this person."

He wants his neighbors to know his is trying his best to keep the live music as low as he can.

"It's almost out of his hands if double down gets too loud, but then again me personally it doesn't bother me or my roommate."

According to Gainesville Police managers at Double Down have been warned three times since November.

Moe Rodriguez was given two warnings and if the complaints continue Rodriguez could be fined up to $500.